Calculations for Mixing Pesticides

In mixing a finished spray, it is most important to add the correct amount of pesticide to the mix. Too little may result in a poor job, while too much may result in injury to the treated surface, illegal residues, or unnecessary expense. Directions for mixing are given on the label and only very simple calculations are necessary.

Key points on this page

Understand the importance of adding the correct amount of pesticide to a mix.

Learn to do correct calculations for mixtures of pesticides.

Wettable Powder Mixing

You may be given directions to add 2 pounds of pesticide to 100 gallons of water and you wish to fill a 300 gallon tank. Since you know that 300 gallons is 3 times 100 gallons, you simply add 3 times 2 pounds, or 6 pounds in 300 gallons. If you wish to mix only 20 gallons of finished spray, you must use some simple arithmetic. Follow these steps:

1. Find what part 20 is of 100.

OR 20 goes into 100 five times.

So 20 gallons is 1/5 of 100 gallons.

2. Therefore, you must add 1/5 of 2 pounds of pesticide to your finished spray.

1 pound contains 16 ounces; 2 pounds contains 32 ounces.

1/5 of 32 oz. = 32 divided by 5 OR 6.4 ounces

Another way to handle the above situation would be to figure that at 2 pounds per 100 gallons, .2 (two tenths) pounds is required for every 10 gallons.

Liquid Mixing

Liquids are mixed in the same manner. If your directions call for 2 pints emulsifiable concentrate per 100 gallons, 300 gallons will take 6 pints and 20 gallons will take .2 (two tenths) of 2 pints.

Example:

2 pints (1 quart) = 32 fluid ounces.

.2 of 32 = 32 x .2 = 6.4 fluid ounces

Percentage Mixing

Sometimes you will find directions telling you to make a finished spray of a specific percentage, for instance, 1% spray for ants. The pesticide may be formulated as a 57% emulsifiable concentrate. To make a 1% finished spray, you would add 1 part of pesticide to 56 parts of water. For example, 1 fluid ounce in 56 fluid ounces (1 3/4 quarts) of water.

When mixing percentages you should remember that 1 gallon of water weighs about 8.3 pounds and 100 gallons weigh about 830 pounds.* Thus, to make a 1% mix of pesticide in 100 gallons of water you must add 8.3 pounds of active ingredient of pesticide to 100 gallons of water. The following formulas may be used for reference.

Formula for Wettable Powder Percentage Mixing. To figure the amount of wettable powder to add to get a given percentage of active ingredient (actual pesticide) in the tank:

Example

How many pounds of an 80% wettable powder are needed to make 50 gallons of 3.5% spray for application by mist blower?

calculation result = 18.1 lbs. 80% WP

Formula for Emulsifiable Concentrate Percentage Mixing. To figure amount of emulsifiable concentrate to add to get a given percentage of active ingredient (actual pesticide) in the tank.

Example

How many gallons of a 25% emulsifiable concentrate (2 pounds pesticide per gallon) are needed to make 100 gallons of 1% spray?

Square Feet Mixing Useful Facts to Remember

Often the label will give mixing instructions in terms of quantities of pesticide to be used per 1000 square feet as in turf treatments, or per acre as in commercial vegetables. In this case you will have to determine and adjust the amount of liquid your sprayer applies over a given area. This is called calibrating the equipment. When the equipment is calibrated you can add the proper amount of pesticide to give the recommended dosage per area.